Stories of
American Heroes -
Brought to you from the "Home of Heroes" - Pueblo, Colorado

Edward
S. Martinaka:
Edwin S. Martin

TAPS

Fading light dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky,
Gleaming bright.
From afar drawing nigh,
Falls the night.

Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, From the hills,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.

Then good night, Peaceful night,
Till the light of the dawn
Shineth bright,
God is near, do not fear,
Friend, good night.

Cypress Hills National
Cemetery
5766

Born:1840 at Ireland

Entered
Service in the US Navy from Philadelphia, PA

Earned The Medal of Honor During the Civil War For heroism
August 05, 1864 at Mobile Bay, Fort Morgan, AL

Died:December
23, 1901 at the age of 61

On August 5,
Union Admiral David Farragut’s Union fleet of eighteen ships
entered Mobile Bay, Alabama, and received a devastating fire
from Forts Gaines and Morgan and other points. Admiral
Farragut's wooden ships fought valiantly under this devastating
fire as well as shells from the rebel gunboats and the ironclad
ram Tennessee. After passing the forts, Farragut forced the
Confederate naval forces under Admiral Franklin Buchanan, to
surrender, along with the prized ram Tennessee. Fort Morgan was
destroyed and this action effectively closed Mobile Bay as a
Confederate port, making the action one of the greatest Naval
victories of the war. Ninety sailors and eight Marines were
awarded Medals of Honor in this battle, the most for any single
day in the award's history. Four crewmen of the U.S.S. Galena
were numbered among these heroes, including Quartermaster Edward
Martin. Securely lashed to the side of the Oneida which had
suffered the loss of her steering apparatus and an explosion of
her boiler from enemy fire, the Galena aided the stricken vessel
past the enemy forts to safety. Despite heavy damage to his ship
from raking enemy fire, Quartermaster Martin performed his
duties with skill and courage throughout the action.